Catching a computer virus is not as easy as catching a cold but like germs in the air, there are plenty of harmful digital germs flying around cyberspace.

But there are many simple ways to protect yourself from falling victim to either a virus or spyware. But what are they? Well…

COMPUTER VIRUSES - These are often known as Trojans or Worms and can delete all of your precious photos, documents and music from a hard drive, slow down your computer or make it totally unusable.

They spread through infected email attachments you open or links you click while surfing the web. They can also hide in infected websites or invade your computer via a USB memory dongle moved between machines.

SPYWARE – These are files or programs that sit invisibly in the background of your computer after you inadvertently download them.

This could be from an infected website, attachment or rogue webpage link.

Problems spyware cause range from unwanted pop-up adverts on your screen to copying passwords as you type them. This could let cybercriminals steal money from your bank account.

Virus busting

If you have anti-virus software installed on your computer, then you’re already one step ahead of the virus writers and cybercrooks.

But you must ensure it is set to automatically update, which means it will continually download the latest information so you are protected from outbreaks as they occur.

If you don't have virus software, you must get some. Find out more about our award winning anti virus software, Super Safe Boost by visiting MyAccount.

Users of Microsoft’s Windows operating system can also switch on a free FIREWALL. This acts like a barrier to block hackers from attacking your system. But it can’t repair a virus infection like a full-on software package. It might also not be compatible with some anti-virus products you buy. It can though be easily switched off and their own in-built firewall used instead.

If you own an APPLE product then viruses and spyware aren’t as much of a problem. The vast majority are written to infect PCs because these are the most vulnerable to attack.

Your Apple operating system has its own firewall, so ensure it is switched on, to provide you with full protection.

How to avoid visuses and spyware

The best way to avoid catching a virus or downloading spyware is to be careful and be sensible while on the web. Here are some quick tips that should help you do that.

1)    Don’t click links on your friends’ social network profiles unless you can be sure they put them there. This is a common way for spyware to spread.

2)    If a link is promising an offer, story or picture that feels to good to be true, it probably is. Don’t click it, it’s likely to be a scam.

3)    Don’t open attachments in emails unless you know who sent them. Even then, be wary because viruses can send you a message that looks like it has come from an email address you know, such as a family member’s.

4)    You might feel you’re being helpful passing on an email warning of a virus, but you’re not. Often these are invented by cybercriminals to trick people into clicking links that DO contain harmful elements.

5)    Educate your children at a young age of the dangers of viruses and spyware. As they grow up, they are more likely to accidentally cause you an infection when their curiosity gets the better of them, and they select something they shouldn’t.

6)    Always backup your files. If a virus strikes, once it is removed from your hard drive, you can then put everything back where it belongs without losing anything. See our article on How To Backup Safely for more information.

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